ella

haunting chords of the pipe organ swelled i

New York's elite died in their throats. A suffocating, absolute silence crashed over the room. The

saw Dante 'The

e rose-petal carpet, his grip on my arm an iron vise. Camera flashes expl

but he didn't even make it a full step. Two Moretti Soldiers materialized from the shadows, their massive frames blocking him instantly. They didn't draw weapon

the sharp sound of shatteri

flute scattered at his feet. His face was ashen, his eyes wide with the terr

He didn't have to. The air in the ballroom seemed to evaporate, replaced by a crushing, icy pressure.

h its strings slashed, his chin dropping to his chest in total submission.

t beading heavily on his upper lip. He stammered through the abbre

ngs?" the Judg

rco had taken the cus

s own finger. It was engraved with the Moretti griffin crest. He grabbed my left hand. The metal was still warm from his skin as he forced

tely skipping the traditional kiss. "

d, he leaned down and pressed his lips firmly against my forehead. It

ound to face

ont row, her hands trembling in her lap. The hatred radiating from her gaze was toxic enough to burn me alive. I ha

made me lower my head. But the heavy p

h curve upward into a small, diamond-hard smile. *I am no long

to the small of my back, his fingers

e command

aisle toward the exit, where his armored Maybach